SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Evan Fitzner scored a game-high 21 points and Dane Pineau added 14, including 10 in the second half, to lead a balanced scoring attack for hot-shooting Saint Mary's, which downed Santa Clara men's basketball, 81-59, Wednesday night in West Coast Conference action.
The Gaels (10-1, 2-0) came in as the top shooting team in the nation (54 percent) and connected on a season-best 63 percent from the floor, including 68 percent in the second half.
Jared Brownridge, who had scored more than 20 points in four straight games, had a team-high 15 points for Santa Clara, but was 1-for-5 from behind the 3-point line and did not attempt a free throw.
Fitzner (7 of 8) and Pineau (7 of 7) combined to miss just once the field-goal attempt in a game the Gaels led for nearly the entire way.
The Broncos (4-10, 0-2), who had won their last three in Leavey Center, cut what was as much as a 10-point first-half deficit to 44-40 with 15:00 left in the game, but Saint Mary's quickly pushed it back to double digits.
Leading scorer Emmett Naar (14.9 points per game), who was held to nine points (all in the second half) but had eight assists, fed Pineau for a layup on a pick-and-roll, and then Naar and Joe Rahon nailed back-to-back 3-pointers during a 1:00 stretch.
"With a team that shoots that well, you've got to be on top of what you're doing on both ends," Santa Clara head coach Kerry Keating said. "You can't let them get to those runs and then you've got to capitalize on your end. That was the game right there."
Henrik Jadersten hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the deficit to 52-43 with 13:12 left, but the Broncos were never able to get the lead below double digits the rest of the way.
Brownridge's driving layup made it 66-55 with 4:23 left in the game, but the Broncos, who shot 44 percent from the floor in the game, were only able to score two field goals the rest of the game.
KJ Feagin had 13 points and a career-high nine assists for Santa Clara, which only turned the ball over six times, tying a season low (also vs. Pacific Union, Dec. 12).
Matt Hauser had 10 points on 4-for-6 from the field for Santa Clara.
Pineau posted a double-double with a game-high 10 rebounds and had three blocked shots.
Calvin Hermanson (11) and Jock Landale (10) also reached double figures for Saint Mary's, which won its fourth-straight game.
The Broncos welcomed one injured forward back, but lost another in the early going.
Jarvis Pugh had missed seven games with a knee injury, but returned to play 24 minutes, tallying six points and four rebounds. However, Matt Hubbard hurt his ankle in the first half and was limited to five minutes of action.
"We've been dealing with this since September," Keating said of the injuries.
Evan Wardlow (wrist) is currently out of action. Brendyn Taylor missed seven games with a concussion, but returned Friday vs. Nevada, and freshman Tony Lewis has not played this season.
Fitzner scored 12 of the team's first 14 points, hitting all four of his field goal attempts, including a 3-for-3 effort from behind the 3-point line as the Gaels opened an early 14-4 lead.
Feagin scored back-to-back baskets to make it 18-12, but Landale added a pair of layups and the Saint Mary's lead was pushed to 22-12 with 9:53 left in the first half.
The Broncos then scored eight of 10 points to cut the deficit to 24-20 with 8 minutes to go before halftime.
Santa Clara had some momentum heading into the locker room as jumpers from Brownridge and Hauser in the last 2 minutes of the half made it 35-31.
But Fitzner hit a 3-pointer and Naar nailed a jumper, his first points on the game, 2 minutes into the second half to increase the lead to 40-31.
The Broncos are off until Thursday, Dec. 31 when they face Gonzaga at home. Tip for that New Year's Eve game is set for 2 p.m.
Notes: Jared Brownridge (15 points) moved from 21st to 20th on the school's career scoring list. Brownridge, now with 1,354 points, passed Marlon Garnett (1,346/1993-97) … Matt Hauser (10 points) hit double-digit scoring for the second time this season and had his best shooting performance connecting of 4 of 6 field goals, including both 3-pointers.
Santa Clara-Saint Mary's Series: Santa Clara and Saint Mary's are longtime rivals and original West Coast Conference members. The series began in 1910 and the teams played for the 220th time, the most common opponent in Santa Clara history. The Broncos lead the series 133-87.
